St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-07
WATCHING THE TIDE.
Poetical Sermon by Rev. Bird
Wilkin, Delivered Last Night.

Rev. Bird Wilkin, after visit South,
preached at the Pilgrim Baptist church last
night, With regard to his call to become
pastor of church at Chicago, Mr.. Wilkn
says that since his coming to st. Paul he
has had calls to Chicago, Topeka, Little
Rock and Nashville. He has not vet con-
cluded to accept his latest one. For his
sermon last night Mr.. Wilkin took .Natch-
ing the Tide" as the subject, and gave
fiowery and poetic talk to the large audi
ence that occupied the pews before him. lie
said:
The language of poetry, as well as scrip
ture, leads us to the conclusion that this life
is bounded sea. time bounding the stormy
Atlantic on the east and eternity kissing the
shores of the Pacific on the west On either
shore believers in the Immortality of the soul
discern by sight aud by faith watchers. To
the prisoners of hope" there shines an
everlasting beacon from the lighthouse on
either shore. The tides ebb and flow con-
tinuously, and standing on this side the sea
we watch what is brought out of the sea of
life by the tide. Holy ones on the shores be-
yond are scanning the incoming tide to see
what it brings. And oh, look! AS the tide
leaves that shore for mid-ocean's dashing,
breaking pillows, see how they send us the
riches OF their peaceful, fruitful land.
Blessings come to us here. The wise watch
the tide to catch whatever of worth
this swelling wave brings. The foolish man
sleeps. and, Notwithstanding the tide places
al his feet the rich pearls OF love and joy, he
gets nothing. The sun-colored shells with
all their beauty lie before him, of little worth.
But the incoming tide often brings us signs
Of terrible wreck. Some noble ship with
precious cargo is breaking. The rocks of
our Atlantic shore are grinding our splendid
ship TO atoms, and the tide brings us the news
and asks of us relief. Oh, awake, We men of
hp fa SrafiOnl
you not see through the terrible storm the
danger signals calling you? Oh, Church of
Christ. do you not hear mothers screaming.
hear We not the pitiful wall from the wave,
Come and save nsy' Arise! Get the life
boat afioat! OF! Pull hard! Steer straight!
Great darkness is settling. The last light is
burning low. Soon all will be gone. Oh,
haste we, haste We! All, there you have
come! The passengers and crew are saved.
Praise the Lord!
Every family is ship on the turbid sea of
life. They have been sent to US from the
beyond. And as they were sent to companion
us, to bless US; oh. let us not let them get
lost right at our shore. Let US land them
safely here and when we cross, as it were,
the troubles of land and 10 gether go down
again to ship for the other shore, let us take
with US those we have saved from the wreck.
There are pirates. Yea, this sea is covered
with them. Their hideous faces can be seen
from near our shores. The black flags are
floating in the pure breezeS. God has given
us the 'men of war;" the sailors true and
tried-our captain. OF ship can walk the
waves. 1t is our business TO clear the seas of
these preying fiends. But the other shore!
Who stands there watching and waiting for
the coming of the tide? My mother? Yes
And if sorrow, if anxiety can remain on
those Pacific shores. do you think she is not
watching? She knows 1 am out on
this treacherous sea. She knows that
pirates abound in all these waters. She
knows that storms gather in fury on this
gloomy voyage; and oh, how she looks, how
she turns her glasses toward every coming
| tide to see if she can discover q ship, on
| whose high-fying, blood-stained banner the
name, 'Wikin." is Inscribed. But, look,
how she peers at each piece of wood, each
| piece OF paper that floats to her feet. She
trembies when she sees it, so afraid that it is
the sad message lost. Pirates destroyed.
! Storms wrecked.
Some OF you have dear little children on
that peaceful shore, who are playing on the
beach, and us each ship reaches the port their
| little hearts turn to see if mother or father is
lere. Oh, let inc ask you tonight TO take
| passage in the only ship which storms cannot
| wreck or pirates destroy, and thus land safely
beyond IN the blessed harbor. The old ship
the ship Salvation. Heavenly breeZes fill her
sails, love pulls her oars, and faith pilots
safely.